Animal Packer

United States Forest Service • Fort Jones, CA

433d • $46,800 - $46,925

About The Position

The Animal Packer position is a temporary role within the National Forest Service, primarily responsible for packing supplies and equipment into remote backcountry locations using horses or mules. This role involves a variety of tasks related to animal care, equipment maintenance, and manual labor, ensuring safe and efficient transport of goods in rugged terrains.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Ability to perform the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
• Knowledge of technical practices, use of measuring instruments, and ability to interpret instructions and specifications.
• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment, and knowledge of materials.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with animal handling and care in a backcountry setting.
• Familiarity with trail maintenance and outdoor labor tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provides packing services to remote backcountry locations.
• Packs and balances loads of supplies, tools, and equipment, rigs loads on pack saddles, and monitors and adjusts as necessary.
• Loads animals into and out of trailers, secures animals within trailers, and tows trailers with heavy-duty trucks.
• Handles and cares for stock, including grooming, feeding, watering, and addressing medical needs.
• Maintains pack equipment, tack, and other supplies as needed.
• Assists with maintenance of stock facilities, including fences, corrals, and water systems.
• Rides and leads pack animals over rugged mountainous terrain to reach destinations safely.
• Performs a variety of manual labor tasks involving trail maintenance and reconstruction work as assigned.
• Monitors stock and related equipment, reporting any issues to the stock manager and supervisor.

Benefits

• Access to a comprehensive benefits package as a federal employee, including health insurance and retirement plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry
• Education Level: No Education Listed